What is this device

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MikeAqua

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#195794 4-May-2016 16:18

Stayed in a brand new hotel last night.

Under the kitchenette sink was some sort of electrical control device fitted to a water pipe but also plugged into the mains.

About match box size with black plastic housing two rotary adjustment controls and test button.

Whatever it was about every 30minutes it clunked on emitted rushing water sounds then clunked off.

Couldn't get a decent photo due to awkward location.

The kitchenette had a washing machine and a dishwasher.

What is this infernal device and what is it's purpose other than to deny me sleep?

I turned the one in my unit off at the wall, but others were going off in unoccupied rooms either side. Long night.

Mike

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#1546723 4-May-2016 16:23

How annoying. Di you give them feedback on it?

robjg63

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#1546724 4-May-2016 16:23

Hope you complained to the owners...

Best guess anti flooding device of some sort.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

wellygary

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#1546726 4-May-2016 16:24

Was it on an inlet pipe ( hot ot cold) or an outlet waste pipe?

RunningMan

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#1546727 4-May-2016 16:24

A timed water control valve - might be for a nearby urinal or something to automatically flush.

MikeAqua

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#1546730 4-May-2016 16:24

Yes. They were every apologetic. It's only been open for a few days and they are ironing out bugs. Other than this one issue the room was lovely.

trig42:

How annoying. Di you give them feedback on it?

Mike

MikeAqua

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#1546732 4-May-2016 16:27

Nothing like that nearby (just other rooms) and sounded like similar units were clunking away in the rooms either side of me.

RunningMan:

A timed water control valve - might be for a nearby urinal or something to automatically flush.

Mike

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BruceHamilton

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#1546756 4-May-2016 17:25

Watering valve for the hydroponic cannabis plants in the hot water cupboard?.

Flush valve on an appliance ( dishwasher? ) to ensure all nozzles stay clean?.

gzt

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#1546758 4-May-2016 17:33

http://www.macdonaldindustries.co.nz/Site/ViewItem.aspx?pageModuleItemId=1265932?

Fred99

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#1546765 4-May-2016 17:55

Jeesh - the longest interval setting is 45 minutes. It's hard to believe that "dry out" is why they're needed. We go away for months, and AFAIK the waste traps haven't dried out. Perhaps there was an issue with sewer venting in the building - negative pressure in the pipes when a toilet was flushed etc, which might empty traps, and this was the plumber's solution. It seems bizarre - would annoy the heck out of me.

jonb

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#1546814 4-May-2016 19:27

For buildings and rooms that are infrequently used, or unoccupied.. I wouldn't class a hotel room sink in that category!

gzt

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#1546885 4-May-2016 22:20

Yeah whatever it is it has to be wrong. Email the asset management and see what they say.

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MikeAqua

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#1546887 4-May-2016 22:21

That's it. Very noisy. So basically a solenoid that pushes water into a drainage trap every now and then to ensure there is standing water?

I wonder what genius decided these should be installed 6 feet from a hotel room bed.

45 minutes does seem to be a ridiculous frequency to compensate for evaporative losses from a trap.

gzt: ?

Mike

elpenguino

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#1546895 4-May-2016 22:34

Tell us where it is so we can avoid it.

I prefer to sleep in (m)hotel rooms - whiny fridges are annoying enough already.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

Aredwood

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#1546931 5-May-2016 01:11

Almost guaranteed that this would have been a requirement of the building consent of the building. Councils just love specifying pointless stuff like these devices to try and solve a non issue. And create at least 2 new issues instead. And what is even more stupid is councils are normally trying to reduce water usage. Yet these devices probably use far more water than what the sink itself ever will.

Yet the solution is easy - Just install these instead http://www.hepvo.com/ They are available at every plumbing wholesaler. Only problem with them is that they cant be used for high flow situations. Such as for a standpipe for a top load washingmachine.

Yet another case of councils not being able to see a simple yet perfect solution right in front of them.

linw

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#1547027 5-May-2016 09:58

Can't believe the esoteric things I learn from GZ!!

Also can't believe that anyone would think these devices were OK in a hotel or motel, especially as Aredwood points out that there are totally quiet and far less complicated devices available.

Wonder how we have survived all these years with just the ordinary U bend setup?

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